If I had to describe myself with one word it would be artist - a visual artist and an artist with words. My artwork is included in Ohio Online Visual Arts Registry. I'm working with various galleries in the Midwest to promote my oil paintings and abstract light photography.

There’s something for everyone in Door County Wisconsin – especially in the summer when the breezes from Lake Michigan and Green Bay gently cool the Door County Peninsula and its 30 islands. Long known as a vacation escape for urban inhabitants of Minneapolis and Chicago, Door County is attracting more visitors from throughout the Midwest. Miles and miles of state park beaches, charming lakefront villages, fine and casual dining for discriminating palates provide pleasant vacation memories. Door County also has a variety of recreational, entertainment, and artistic activities to please all of the members of the family.

You are rarely more than a few miles from water so it is not surprising that there are so many ways to enjoy being on the water: sailing, cruising, canoeing, water bikes, kayaks, fishing charters and more. If you want to just dip your toes in the water there are beautiful sand beaches at Peninsula State Park and Whitefish Dunes State Park.

Families with young children enjoy a visit to the Washington Island Farm Museum where the kids can pet the animals, pump water, talk with crafts workers plying heritage skills such as blacksmithing and weaving. There is also plenty of room to run off some pent up energy and kids love to ride the ferry over to the island.

Adults can visit Orchard Winery for tastings of the wines made from local fruits. Some are nicely dry; others sweeter dessert wines. On beautiful summer nights there are also musical and dramatic performances indoors and under the stars in venues throughout the area.

Whether it was an immigrant’s thrift or maybe a smart marketing ploy, the goats on the grass roof of Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay have attracted curious visitors for years. The fact that the food is great keeps them coming back – especially for a breakfast of ligonberry pancakes – yum ……….

Scandinavian heritage is strong in Door County. Pride in that heritage energized the construction of the Stavkirke. The wooden church, a replica of one in Borgund, Norway was built by the congregation of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation as a quiet place of contemplation. Sited in the woods across the street from their larger stone church, it has a contemplative prayer path outside and an inspiring interior with a soaring wood vaulted ceiling.

Don’t wait for a rainy day to visit Hands On Arts Studio. The complex of building offers 4 studio spaces in which to create your own art using wood, metal, glass, or ceramics. Make it one day; come back to pick it up the next – or have it shipped home. The studio costs are reasonable and walk-ins are welcome – so when you have a less than perfect day for beach time, consider making your own souvenir to remember your happy days and nights in Door County Wisconsin.

As a travel writer it is my responsibility to select the best places, events, and experiences to present to you. Most travel has been on my own though some has occurred on sponsored press trips. Travel listings here will be more informal than my published articles.